At the end of my tether with DS's biting. ARGHHHHH!

[marzipananimal]

DS is 14 months. He's been biting since about 8 months i think.

At first I used to ignore and distract, then a firm 'no' and remove from the situation. Now I'm trying everything I can think of and NOTHING BLOODY WORKS

He mainly only bites me (and DH a bit) but has recently made a few attempts to bite other children. I'm covered in bruises and finding it REALLY hard to keep my temper.

He's really persistant - literally hundreds of attempted bites every day.

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!

My DS same age and fortunately does not bite, so I have no direct experience.

However, according to my mother I was a terrible biter. Until one time she bit me back, hard. And again when I did it a second time. And then that was the end of that. No more biting.

BTW, I had the most wonderful loving and affectionate relationship with my mother (passed away), so this incident didn't affect our relationhsip. I can't even remember it!

I bet you he's going through a developmental spurt. I have no direct experience but a child at my dd nursery was a profound biter at around this age. A few months later when her speech picked up it stopped overnight,

I wouldn't worry. HTH.

Have heard this technique before, never tried it myself but is worth it I suppose.
When DS bites you, scream really loudly/scream 'NO!' (has to be loud and sharp enough to shock him) and simply put DS in a separate room and leave him.

HTH, friends have said it works quickly as DC's dont like the shock - sounds mean, but its not hurting him and the biting needs to be stopped

bbfacce do you know how old you were when your mum did that? I'm desperate enough that I would do it if I was sure it would work, but I'm not convinced it would.

ThePathan I'm not sure I can wait a few months - and it's been going on so long already :(

Kate I've done similar to that though not every time. I think I might try it. He's not easily shocked though. On occasion I've lost my temper and really shouted at him and he just laughs

Try not to worry, it is a phase. A horrible one granted, but still a phase!

My two both went through a terrible biting stage, one has recently picked it up again with is frustrating, and it was very embarrassing to have to sign the accident book at nursery because they had bitten another child yet again. But, it did tail off after about 4-5 months, and now one doesn't do it at all. I don't know why the other one has started again, but they're not very verbal so it might just be that he is frustrated about his brother pinching his toy and is not able to say it!

Maybe try it, and make sure you do it everytime - make sure its a full-pelt, high-pitched scream.. as loud as you can do it!
My daughter (now 4) is the same as your DS - she finds everything funny.. being put back on the naughty-step for over 3 hours was apparently hilarious.. On the times that I've lost it and got really cross with her, she just laughs in my face - I make her sound so rude and a horrible child, she really isn't! - but then other times if I get cross she will burst into tears and run to her bedroom. Its one extreme to the other!
Hope the technique helps, IMO you shouldnt just ignore it - essentially its not 'saying its okay' but its not 'saying its not okay' either... and also, if he then bites another child (mothers worst nightmare.. ) - do you ignore that aswell?
Good luck with the screaming!